Device for use in installing fluorescent light fixtures



April 18, 1961 D. H. BASS 2,980,419

DEVICE FOR USE IN INSTALLING FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURES Filed May "27,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

DAVID H. BASS Ema-MM;

A TTORNEY April 18, 1961 D. H. BASS 2,980,419

DEVICE FOR USE IN INSTALLING FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURES Filed May 27,1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DAVID H. BASS A TTORNE Y DEVICE FOR USEIN INSTALLING FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURES David H. Bass, 423 CashuaDrive, Florence, S.C.

Filed May 27, 1959, Ser. No. 816,258

2 Claims. (Cl. 269-140) This invention relates to a device for use ininstalling fluorescent light fixtures, and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a simplified andinexpensive device to greatly facilitate the installation of varioustypes of fluorescent light fixtures on ceilings.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of theabove-mentioned character, the use of which will enable a single workmanto install fluorescent light fixtures upon high ceilings, in anexpeditious manner and with a minimum of labor.

A further object is to provide a device of the abovementioned characterwhich is readily adjustable through a wide range to accommodate varioustypes and sizes of fluorescent light fixtures, and to facilitateinstalling the same upon ceilings of varying heights.

A further and more specific object is to provide a fluorescent lightfixture installing device, including adjustable means to grip and holdthe light fixture and extensible means to support the light fixture incontact with the ceiling, and stationary, so that the workman mayreadily complete the installation of the fixture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and inwhich like'numerals are employed to esignate like parts throughout thesame 7 V Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device for use in installingfluorescent light fixtures accordingto the invention, and showing thedevice in use. V

Figure 2 is a further side elevation of the device in a retracted andfolded condition. p

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation taken from theleft-hand side of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the upper portion and adjustableclamping parts of the device.

Figure 5 is a further fragmentary perspective view, partly exploded,showing the upper portion of the device.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of-the device showing onesupport arm in a partly folded position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of thedevice. A

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary" vertical section taken on line 8-8of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a similar'section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 3.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates anelongated straight bar or standard, preferably square in cross section,and being of considerable length, such as eight feet. The length of thestandard 10 is not critical however and may be varied somewhat as founddesirable to conform to the use of the device for installing fluorescentlight fixtures at various ceiling heights.

A flat base plate 11 is provided, and this base plate Patented Apr. 18,1961 has a pair of spaced upstanding apertured lugs 12 rigidly securedthereto, and between which the lower extremity of the standard 10 ispivotally secured by means of a bolt 13, or the like.

An elongated tube 14, square in cross section, engages telescopicallyand slidably over the standard 10 as shown in the drawings, and thistube is somewhat shorter than the standard 10 and may be approximatelysix and onehalf feet long, although this length is not critical and maybe varied somewhat.

Near its upper and lower ends, the tube 14 carries clamping set screws15 and 16, operable to releasably secure the standard 10 and tube 14 inselected longitudinally adjusted positions. The inner ends of the setscrews are adapted to bear against one side of'the standard 10 forlocking the same to the tube 14, as shown, and the set screws 15 and 16are equipped with relatively large handles to facilitate operating them,as shown.

A support plate 17 is rigidly secured by welding or the like to one sideof the rectangular tube 14 at its upper end, and the support plate 17projects outwardly of the tube and standard at right angles thereto. Astiffening gusset 18 may be provided beneath the support plate 17 andwelded thereto and to the adjacent side of the tube 14, as shown. Thesupport plate 17 is arranged so that it does not obstruct the top openend of the tube 14, through which the upper portion of the standard 10may project as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

A pair of relatively long bracket arms or bars 19 and 2%) are provided,and the inner end portions of these bars overlie the support plate 17and are permanently hingedly secured thereto by means of suitable hinges21 and 22. The arms 19 and 20 may be approximately twenty inches long,although this length may be varied somewhat as found desirable. The arms19 and 20 are freely swingable upon the hinges 21 and 22 betweenpositions at right angles to the standard 10, Figures 1 and 4, andpositions parallel thereto, Figure 2. When the arms 19 and 20 areseparated and extending at right angles to, the standard, their innerend portions bear upon the rigid support plate 17, which plateserves asa positive stop to prevent the arms 19 and 20 from swinging below thehorizontal, Figure 4.

At their outer ends, the arms 19 and 20 have stationary clamp elementsor plates 23 rigidly secured by welding or the like to their sidesremote from the standard lfl. Slotted bars 24 have corresponding endspermanently rigidlysecured to the clamp plates 23 and extend at rightangles to the arms 19 and 20, beyond corresponding sides thereof, asshown. The slotted bars 24 may be approximately nine inches long,although this length may be varied somewhat as found desirable. As shownin Figure 4, the slotted bars. 24 are horizontally disposed when thearms 19 and 20 are horizontal and the standard 10 is arrangedvertically. The slotted bars are bodily carried by the arms 19 and 20.;

Adjustable clamp plates 25 are provided, and each clamp plate 25 has ascrew-threaded stud 26 rigid therewith, engagable within ascrew-threaded nut 27, having a handle 28. w

Each adjustable clamp plate 25 extends above one of the slotted bars 24at right anglesthereto and has its screw-threaded stud 26engaging'slidablythrough the longitudinal slot 29 of the-particularbar'24. Each nut 27 has screw-threaded engagement withthe stud 26 belowthe bar 24, and each nut bears against the lower side of the bar 24. Thelower transverse edge of each clamp plate 25 slidably contacts the upperface of the bar 24, as shown in the drawings. may be interposed betweenthe nut 27 and the bottom of the slotted bar 24, upon the stud 26 ifdesired. The

A flat washer 36, Figure 5,

slot '29 of each bar 24 extends throughout the major portion o'tthelength of'the bar 24, as shown. The arrangement is such that eachadjustable clamp plate 25 may be treleas'ably,secured inlthe selectedadjustedposit ionv l n itudinal y. the r-p24 in s a e p rela ion of eachclamp plate 25 is obtainedthrough manipulation of the clamping nut 27having the handle 2b, as shoiild be obvious j M p 'lnuse, the tube 1*4isinitially loweredon the standard '10 and assumes the position showngenerally in Figure 2. The arms 19 and 20 are swung outwardly to theirpositions shown in Figures 4 andjSarid'the clamping nuts 27 areloosened. The fluorescent light' fixture 31 to be installed upon theceiling 32 is now brought to :rest

,iip'on' the-b'ars' 24 and preferably centered with respect to thestandard as shownin Figure 1.' "Thesides of the fixture 3 1, Figure 3,are disposedibetweenthe fixed and movable clamp plates 23 and .25. Theclamp plates 25 are now moved'int'oclampingengagement with the outerside of the' lixture 31 and locked in thevclamping position bytightening of'the nuts 27 This' serves to securely hold the .fixture31'between the pairs ofclampplates 23 and 25, and "the fixture isfirmlysupported from below by the bars 24.

2 'The basevplate ll is now-placed upon the'fioor 33, aud thetube :14 isshifted upwardly for elevating the horizo'ntalfix'ture 31 intofcontactwith the ceiling 32. By

manipulation of the device, the fixture 31is located in substantiallythe exact spot where his to be installed upon ithe'ceiling; -Theclamping setsc'rews Hand 16 are now'tightened to firmly secure the tube14 in the adjusted elevatedposition, with the fixture 31 hearing againstthe ceiling. The device may now be left unattended and will serve toadequately support the fixture 31 untilthe work; man upon ailadder orthe like completes the installation of the same, after which the clampplates 25 are merely released from grippingenga gement with the'fixtureand .i.

the tube 14 is lowered.

The arms '19 and 20 are readily foldable to extend parallel'to thestandard and tube 14 as shown in Figure 2, and whenthe tube 14 isfully-lowered, the upper porsupport, said arms engagipgthe upperfacerofthesupport'plate so that said'supportplate supports said armswhen they are swung to the iouterfsubstantially horizontal position;bars mounted upon the outer ends of said arms and extendingtransversely-thereof and'being horizontally arranged when said arms arehorizontal, said secondnamed bars having longitudinal slots;'clampplates secured tothe outer ends of the arms adjacent to theinner ends*of said second-named barsfadjustable elamp plates mounted upontheuppertaces' ofsaid second-named bars; screw-threaded elements carried bythe adjustable clamp plates 'and extending throughthe longitudinal slotsof said second-named bar's; and c'lam'ping elements arranged beneath thesecond-named bars and engaging the screwthreaded elements. V I

2. 'A' devicefor' use in installing" fluorescent light fixtures on aceiling; said 'device comprising a single substantially verticalsupport, said support including a bar,

'a sleeve slidably mounted upon the bar, said sleeve being shorter than'thelb'ar so that the iupper end'of the sleeve may be positioned beneaththe upper end of the bar when the sleeve is in the lowered position,adjustable means to clamp the; sleeve .upon the bar; a baseplatesecured'to the lower end of the bar to engagethe floor;'a'horizontalsupport plate rigidly secured tothe upper end of the" sleeve andarranged entirely upon one side ofthe sleeve so that thesupport platemay assume a position below thenpper tion of the standard 10 extendsbetween thefolded arms 19 ,and 20; This arrangement renders the devicecompact and easy to transport. a

The-arrangement of the arms v19.-and 20, the slotted bars 24 andadjustable clamp plates 25 renders the device tirely practical for onlyone workmanto completely 'manipulate vand install a fluorescentlight,fixture ,upona high ceiling.

end of said bar; arms arranged in end-to-end relation when-in the openposition'and having their inner ends arranged above the horizontalsupport plate; hinges connecting the inner ends' of the arms with thesupport plate so that the arms may be collapsed toextend longitudinallyof said support, said arms engaging the upper face of the supportplateso that said support plate supports said arms .adaptableto a widevariety of types andsizes of fluorescent light fixtures. The use of thedevice makes ,it enwhen they are swung to-the outer substantiallyhorizontal position; 'bars mounted'uponthe outer ends of said arms andextending transversely thereof and being horizontally arranged when saidarms are horizontal, said secondnamed bars having longitudinal slots;clamp plates secured to the outer ends of the arms adjacent to the innerends of said second-namedbars; adjustableclamp plates I mounted upon.theupper faces .oflsaid second-named "I'he pivotal connection at 13between the base plate 11 and standard 10 compensates for irregularities.in the floor or lackof parallelism between the floor and ceiling. Theentiredevice is extremely simplified, relatively light weight, ruggedand durable, easyto adjust and inexpensiveto build. Its usegreatlysimplifies the installation of [ceiling light fixtures of thefluorescent type and also greatly reduces the expense of theinstallation. 7

It is to beunderstood'thatthe formof .thezinvention herewith shown anddescribed is ,tq'be .taken as a pre the shape,size and arrangement ofparts may beresorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of theinvention for thescope of the subjoined claims. K

T Having'thus described my invention, I claim:

' ferred example of the same and thatvarious changesin 15A device 'for,use in installing fluorescent lightifixe turejspn a ceiling; said devicecomprising a singlesubbars; screw-threaded elements carried by. theadjustable clamp plates :and extending through the longitudinal slots ofsaid second-namedfbars; and, clampingelements arranged beneaththesecondenamed bars and'engagin the screw-threaded elements.

g v References in file 'of -this patent UVNITEDYSTATES'PATENTS 1,283,795

